Ben Crawford as The Ghost in "The Phantom of the Opera." The fair will end in February 2023 after 35 years.

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The Phantom of the Opera will close on Broadway in 2023

September 17, 2022

After more than three decades, “The Phantom of the Opera,” the longest-running show in Broadway history, is coming to an end.

A representative has confirmed that the show will play its final performance on Saturday, February 18, 2023. It will have played 13,925 performances.

Directed by late theater legend Harold Prince and featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Phantom” opened on January 26, 1988. At that year’s Tonys, it was nominated for 10 awards, in winning 7 – including Best Musical. One of the shows he beat that year? “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim.

“As a British producer who has been blessed to produce in New York for more than 40 consecutive years, it has been an unprecedented honor to have presented the longest-running musical in Broadway history,” said the producer Cameron Mackintosh in a press release. . “That this legendary show has thrilled New York for almost 35 phenomenal years is quite amazing to me.”

As much a part of the city’s landscape as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, the blockbuster phenomenon has long been a New York City landmark. Although not a critical success, tourists continued to come year after year to see the show’s lavish sets and costumes, great cast, and Broadway’s greatest orchestra.

Hypnotized by the talents and beauty of the young soprano Christine, the Phantom attracts her as his protegee and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christine’s love for Raoul, the Phantom’s obsession sets the stage for a dramatic turn of events where jealousy, madness and passions collide. With songs like “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” “All I Ask of You,” and “The Music of the Night,” the show played near capacity (1,655) decades after it opened.

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Based on the classic novel “The Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux, the show’s lyrics are by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and a book by Richard Stilgoe and Webber. He has performed to over 145 million people in 41 countries and 183 cities in 17 languages.

But before it closes, the show at the Majestic Theater, 245 W. 44th St., will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Jan. 26. The date tickets will go on sale for the final four weeks of performances – including the 35th anniversary, Valentine’s Day and the final performance, as well as details of all celebrations, will be announced at a later date.

‘Phantom’ became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 – when it overtook the nearly 18-year run of ‘Cats’, another musical featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Representatives say it was viewed by 19.5 million people and grossed $1.3 billion. In New York, the show employed approximately 6,500 people (including 450 actors) during its more than 30 years of running.

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The musical changed the touring landscape across the country, inspiring the renovation of theaters and opera houses. The three original US national tours combined grossed over $1.5 billion, playing 216 engagements in 77 cities to 31 million people.

As Broadway bids farewell, the show is still playing in London. A production recently appeared at the Sydney Opera House, and the first Mandarin version of the show will open in China in 2023, according to the statement. Antonio Banderas wants to create a Spanish-language production, the statement added.

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The New York production currently stars Ben Crawford as the Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou as Christine. Ticket prices range from $29 to $169, with premium tickets also available. Call 212-239-6200 or visit Telecharge.com for more information.